July 29

On July 29, 1871, the Connecticut Valley Railroad inaugurated passenger and freight service along its 45-mile route between Old Saybrook and Hartford. Chartered in 1868, the line connected coastal port facilities to inland markets, boosting regional trade and travel. The railroad traversed the scenic Connecticut River Valley, serving agricultural communities and emerging industrial centers. Its operation reduced travel times dramatically and facilitated the movement of goods such as lumber, grain, and manufactured products. Financial struggles and competition eventually led to its lease by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1887. Nonetheless, the Connecticut Valley Railroad played a pivotal role in the economic development of central Connecticut during the late 19th century.

On July 29, 1914, the Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts was inaugurated, creating a 17.4-mile waterway between Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Bay. Constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it aimed to bypass the treacherous outer coast of Cape Cod. The canal significantly reduced travel distance and time for commercial and military vessels. Its completion involved extensive dredging and rock removal projects along the vulnerable coastline. Since its opening, the canal has remained a vital navigational channel, boosting regional trade and transportation.

On July 29, 1920, engineers broke ground on the Link River Dam near the outlet of Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon. The dam was central to the Klamath Reclamation Project, designed to manage water flow for irrigation and flood control. Its concrete structure also housed hydroelectric generators to supply electricity to the surrounding region. Completed in 1921, the dam transformed arid lands into productive farmland and supported local communities. The project exemplified early 20th-century federal reclamation efforts to develop the American West. The Link River Dam continues to operate as part of a major water management system.

On July 29, 1987, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and French President François Mitterrand signed the landmark treaty to construct the Channel Tunnel connecting the UK and France. The agreement outlined financial arrangements, engineering standards, and bi-national management of the undersea link. Planners envisioned high-speed rail and freight services passing beneath the Channel, cutting travel time between the two nations. The tunnel project symbolized post-war European cooperation and became a model for cross-border infrastructure. Preparations began with ground investigations on both sides of the Dover Strait. Construction would ultimately start in 1988 and lead to one of the world's longest underwater tunnels upon completion.